stonethewriter

This brings the Pokémon formula to its debut entry on the switch. The gameplay is a balance of new ideas and old mechanics as Pokémon appear in the overworld. There are plenty of new Pokémon to catch and an endearing adventure to follow. There is a disjointed feeling with the game as it feels new and limited. There is a lot of time spent waiting while transitions play. This isn’t a modern Pokémon game that people expected. While it appease those who enjoy the basic formula, it does little to advance the gameplay of its predecessors.

A story game that neglects some of the best combat of all-time. Joel and Ellie’s adventure across America is filled with dramatic moments and emotional pitfalls. It tells of familial love and loss in the face of inevitability. The DLC of the game should have been more meaningful incorporated into the base game. Playing through the entirety in a play through makes it feel disjointed from the story. The combat is the best in terms of gunplay. The guns have weight and impact. Each feels like it’s taken straight from a film. The most common enemy will be other humans. This provides a lot of firefights in different set pieces. The most intense encounters are with the fungal infected humans that have taken over the world. I wish that there were more enemies and more challenging engagements as the combat is so satisfactory. The lack of additional modes or content makes this remaster far from perfect. Aggressive play styles can lead to visual hiccups and bugs. The game has a new coat of paint, but is far from polished. There is very little to differentiate it from the original. It can be recommended to new players, but not returning ones.

This is the epitome of torture with friends. The game has you primarily on the defensive with gameplay. Stealth, diversions, and retreats are the primary ways that you will use to survive, especially on higher difficulties. The atmosphere and environments are torture chambers with dismembered bodies and lewd material. The enemies are varied in their appearances and mechanics. Each with a unique and terrifying design. The primary objective is to complete puzzles and then speed back to the exit. A variety of tools are dispersed through the environment to throw at enemies, heal, or recharge night vision. Normally, I enjoy combat heavy horror games, but this has the right balance of frights and delights that make being disarmed more engaging. There has been a plethora of cosmetics to unlock for your character through gameplay and challenges. The game is at its best moments when using the in-game voice chat with friends. There are a few bugs and crashes, but the game definitely stands on its own in the genre. People who have always wanted to live through a Saw film will be able to fulfill their wildest nightmares here. This game is very mature with its content and themes. It should be played in small increments and enjoyed only by adults.

This is a game that has always been on my radar since the first trailer, but I finally had the opportunity to complete it. It is propelled forward by its fantastic story and characters. Each one has an enduring presence with little bits of world building. This game is really an experience with its gameplay mainly revolving around traversal and stealth, the paranormal encounters are really engaging with unique mechanics. The gunplay is unrefined with a poor reticle. Combat was definitely the weakest part of the game, but with some memorable elements. You can attack people with luggage, wrestling moves, or lobbing a briefcase like it’s on an airline. At times the game can be repetitive and monotonous. The rain is a decaying overlay that may ever present. Decisions matter on the tools you use and how you want to carry packages. I actually enjoyed living out a USPS mailman in the apocalypse. The environments are beautiful and somber music kicks in for peaceful segments of contemplation. This is one of the most unique games in decades, but combat being the weakest element holds it back from being recommended to everyone.

Perhaps one of the greatest prequels in any game, movie, or franchise. Bungie left the Halo series with this swan song of a banger. The gameplay was updated with armor abilities and different weapons. Master Chief is replaced with Noble 6 as the main character and follows the tragedy that is the fall of Reach. The ending of the game is not surprising from major fans of the lore, but the story feels personal as each of the members of Noble Team has a place in my heart. The game had the pinnacle of content as there was a substantial story campaign, a refined multiplayer with various modes, a firefight mode that felt methodical and included some of the most iconic maps, and a forge mode that allowed players to create anything that they wanted. This game is one of the greatest culminations in gaming and is still as fun as ever in the current day. Some of the graphics may be considered outdated, but its artistic vision is still captured. Some of the additions may be unwelcomed by long-time fans, but I felt that it was a welcome experimentation. There has not been a current Halo game that has reached the heights of Reach or Halo 3.

This is the greatest co-op shooter since Left 4 Dead. The game is a third person shooter with the option to aim down sights. One of the most compelling mechanics of the game are stratagems. You have to call in a code on the d-pad and then throw a beacon. You can choose from flamethrowers, rocket launchers, machine guns, turrets, an orbital laser, missiles, and so much more. The game is live service so content is added to the game. The enemies that you fight are the terminids and the automatons. Each brings its own type of tactical challenge. The story is progressed from the collective actions of the players. Sometimes there is only enough time to save one planet so you must either choose to save children in a hospital or a factory with plans for mines. Each week the story slowly progresses and evolves the gameplay. I highly recommend this game because it’s one to regularly check-in on due to how much they add. This has been one of my favorite games of all time because of the amount of friends that I’ve made and the hours of enjoyment that it has brought. I bought a PlayStation 5 so I could play this game explicitly, but I’ve been enjoying the other exclusives as I wait for new updates or warbonds. I can’t recommend this game enough as it is worth every penny for a 40$ game.

I would give the gameplay itself an 8, but I bought the game on Day One and was mortified by the amount of microtransactions. I still download this game from time to time as it has such a good gameplay loop. The monster feels both underwhelming and overwhelming depending on the stage you’re on. All of the monsters play differently and emphasize different strategies. The hunters have charming personalities and are distinct from one another. It does feel like some of the combinations of characters can be overpowered as there is not as much balancing. This game is iconic for its attempt and controversy, but it is a good game. I would have loved for more modes, a season pass, or other elements of live service games that are present now. The greed at the beginning prevented me from fully experiencing the game, but now that most of the content is free, I’ve had some of the best gaming moments of my life. This game prioritizes strategic thinking and collaboration. The unique cast of characters play with sci-fi tropes in meaningful ways. Each character has their own class, abilities, and play style. The monsters are fascinating and each poses a different type of threat. From a rolling rock to a flying octopus, the game has its own identity that other hero shooters don’t. The online mode can be frustrating with a lack of players, but every so often, there is a resurgence that creates a lot of friends and memories.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]